13 April,2010 09:14 AM IST | | Urmimala Banerjee
Shobhaa De is over the moon. And she has every reason to be so. She will soon turn publisher with her own line of books for Penguin called Shobhaa De Books. She is the first Indian to be given a line of branded books by the publishing house. CS chatted with her about the new feather in her multi-dimensional cap:
WHO: Shobhaa De
WHAT: Talks about turning publisher
WHERE: Taj Mahal, Colaba
Dream come true
It's a huge challenge for me. Through this new endeavour, I want to give something back to writing, which has given me so much in life. When people have placed so much faith in my judgment, it's important for me to give them the best.
I feel that some of the most vibrant literary voices across the world are emerging from India. For a publisher, it's always a high to discover path-breaking literary talent. I hope I am successful in doing so (smiles). I don't want to restrict myself to a particular genre of writing. I want to promote writers who are innovative and connect with modern India.u00a0
Surviving the Internet era
I think reading online and reading books are quite compatible. When the electronic media gained popularity, people felt that it would wipe out newspapers and magazines, but that's not so. In fact, the book business has grown by 23 per cent every year. It's a growth story. I don't see the Internet cutting into book business. Both can exist peacefully. Besides, you cannot compare the attachment for a book with that of a screen. Reading a book is a very sensuous tactile experience. Books have a greater emotional connect too.
A writer's life
The life of a writer requires immense discipline. It's not as glamourous or as romantic as some people make it out to be. It requires a deep level of enthusiasm; writing should give you a sort of an electric charge. People who are on an ego trip while writing can't sustain their momentum. Writing is a lot of slog and a lonely profession. It's only you and your thoughts. Most people find it isolating. Personally, I like the sense of isolation.u00a0
My favourite authors
Amartya Sen is my favourite Indian author. I am also a big fan of Vikram Seth, RK Narayan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Madhavan Kutty, and Anita Nair.
